Typewriter word counter



April 30, 1929. UNDBURG 1,710,777

TYPEWRITER WORD COUNTER Filed Dec. 15, 1923 W AWE/06y Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JOSEPH LINDBURG, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITER WORD COUNTER.

Application filed December 15, 1923.

its length. Such ribbon-feeding means are conveniently connected to the universal bar so that the ribbon is fed step by step as the character-keys and space-key actuate the universal bar. Ordinarily, the ribbon-spools are located one at each side of the machine, and the means whereby to effect a step-bystcp movement of the spools with the universa]. are conveniently accessible through the skeleton side pieces of the main frame.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of means whereby to utilize the ribbon-feeding means, and the impulses thereof,

to drive a register or counter of the character mentioned.

Another feature of the invention, in the preferred embodiment thereof, is the provision of means for supporting the register of one of the skeleton side pieces of the machine; so that the register may be easily accessible and visible; and so that the register, with the driving connections therefor, as a unit, may be readily placeable upon and removable from the machine, and such driving connections be quickly set for actuation by adj acent ribbon-feeding means. Another feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby, through the ribhon-feeding means, the register is driven from the keys,whether space-key, or characte'r-keys, in such manner as to relieve the operator of the effort otherwise involved in running a unit into the register on a single keystroke. A further feature of the invention is the provision of means, of the general character mentioned, for rendering inconsequential, to the operator both the effort involved in driving the register, andany variation thereof which may be due to a particular reading orsetting of the number-wheels.

Serial No. 680,842.

Other features and advantages Will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a typewriting machine showing the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the counter and its supporting bracket.

Figure 3 is a front view of the part shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective, showing the word-counter clearly as a unit to be adjustably attached upon a standard part of the machine-frame, a reciprocating member or arm of the type\vriter-mechanism indicating the method of driving the wordcountcr from the machine.

In the Underwood standard typewriting machine, a universal bar 10 is moved rearward, upon the depression of any characterkey or of the space bar or key, to actuate an escapement mechanism 6, to permit of a single letter-space-movement of the platencarriage 7 on the main frame 8 of the machine. The universal bar is supported by arms 11 on a r0ckshaft 12. A spring 13 holds the universal bar forward in its normal position of rest, and returns the universal bar to such normal position upon release of the character and space keys.

Character-keys 14 are on levers 15, fulcrumed at 16. Springs 17 throw the character-key levers 15 upward to normal position when the character-keys are released. Each character-key lever has a pin-and-slot connection 18 with a bell-crank 19, pivoted at 20 to the frame. An upwardly-extending arm 21 of each of these bell-cranks is pivotally connected at 22 to a type-bar 23, fulcrumed in the usual segment-plate; so that, upon depression of a character-key, the type-bar is thrown upward and rearward to cause the type key to stripe on the frontface of the platen. Each type-bar is provided with a shoulder 24 whereby to engage and throw rearward the universal bar for actuation of the escapcment mechanism, upon operation of a key.

A space bar or key 25 is supported on arms 26, pivoted at 27 to the frame, An arm 28, which is unitary with the arms 26, extends rearward and upward from the pivot 27, for

. movement to feed the ribbon in one or the of the shaft other direction at every actuation of the universal bar by either the character or space keys. For this purpose, each spindle 31, at the base thereof, carries a bevel gear 32 in mesh with another bevel gear 33, fast to a ratchet-wheel 34. Each ratchet is driven by a pawl 35 positioned at each side of the machine; but, according to the direction of drive of the ribbon, when one pawl 35 is active on its ratchet-wheel, the other pawl 35 is disabled. The pawls 35 are pivotally mounted, as at 36, on rock-arms 37, fast to a rock-shaft 38, which extends transversely of the machine and has bearings in brackets 39 on a cross-tie 40, supported on the side members 41 of the main frame. The rockshaft 38,- centrally thereof, has fast thereto an arm 42, having thereon a wrist-pin 43 set into a yoke 44, formed on the arm 29; so that. when the rock-shaft 12 and arm 29, upon release of the depressed key, return to normal position with the universal bar, the arm 42 is rocked down, causing the arms 37 to be rocked up, and causing that one of the pawls 35, which is effective, to effect a one-step rotaryL movement of the corresponding ratchet3 The register 51 and driving connections therefor are supported upon a yoke or bracket 52, so that, as a unit, the same may be mounted upon, and detachable from, the machine. The bracket 52 comprises a yokeshaped portion adapted to be set over the edge 53 of the lower right-hand side framepiece 41. Binding screws 54 secure the bracket 52, and parts carried thereby, to the frame-piece 41, while adjusting screws 55 and lock-nuts 55 provide for lateral adjust-- ment of the bracket for proper positioning of the driving connections adjacent the register arm 37.

The bracket52 supports a plate 56, secured by screws 57 to a flange 58 projecting upward from the yoke-portion of the bracket. To the inner face of the plate 56 is secured the register-casing. The number-wheels 59 of the register are on a spindle or drive shaft (50, which is journaled at one end in the register-casing, and which at its other end has bearingin the plate- 56.. The shaft 60 passes through the plate 56; 2i'nd the projecting end as fast thereto a ratchet-whee1 (3]. Loosely pivoted on the shaft 60 between said plate 56 and said ratchet 61 is an arm 62, carrying a pawl 63 for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 61. A coil-spring 64, secured at 65 to the pawl, and at 66 to a link (37, presses the pawl to the ratchet. The link (37 is pivotally connected at 68 to the pawl-carrying arm (32, and at (39 to a lever 70. The lever 70 is pivoted at 71 to the bracket-plate 56 to operate in the same working plane with said pawl-carryng arm 62, and extends forward closely adjacent and alongside-tlie-arm 37, on which the right-hand ribbon-driving pawl 35 is mounted. At. its forward end, the lever 70 has a lip 72 oti'sct laterally therefrom underthe arm 37. and in the path of movement of the latter. A spring 3, connected at one end to the bracket-plate 56, and at its other end to the lever 70, pulls up on the latter, to cause the lip 72 to be held in contact with the lower edge of the arm 37, and to return the pawl 63 to normal position.

It follows that, whenever the arm 37 is actuated, as hereinbefore described, through the movement of the rock-shaft 12 and arms 29 and 42, upon depression of a key, the lever 7 O is depressed, so as to draw down the link 7 and with it the pawl-carrying arm 62 and pawl 63, causing the pawl 63 to effect a one step rotary movement of the ratchet G1 and register-shaft 60. A detent 74 is held against 7 the ratchet 61 by means of a spring 75 to prevent accidental rotary displacement of the ratchet 61 and register-shaft.

Due to the fineness of the teeth on the ratchet 61, the register or word-counter will respond to slight oscillating strokes of the driving member as well as to slight adjustments of the bracket 52, which sensitiveness is essential since the accuracy of the register readings is based upon a certain average number of strokes per word.

The driving connections for the register may be so proportioned that for a certain number,'for example five or ten, .of character-key or space-key strokes, one unit will be added into the register. A certain number of key-strokes wll be found to be the average number made in the writing and spacing of a word; and the driving connections of the register maybe so proportioned that that number of strokes will result in the addition of one unit into the register, so that the register will in such case indicate the number of words written. lVhether or not the number of key-strokes required to add one unit into the register be the average number made in the writing of a word, the total number of strokes made, or amount of mat-- ter written, will nevertheless be at once deducible from the value, represented in keystrokes, of the units registered.

It is to be noted that the power required for running a full unit into the register is not de-' rived from a single hey-depression, but is contributed iractionally by each of a prcdeterniined plurality of key-depressions; there by so distributing the transmitted leverage as to render almost imperceptible to the operator the effort or driving the register I Even where all the number-Wheelsmay be turned together, as in an advance from the number 939 to the number 1009, the distribution of this leverage among a plurality of keystrokes may not be distinguishable from the running in ct a single unit hence the presence oil the register demands no unusual hey-strokes lit will be noted that the bracket which carrics the register, and all the driving connections special thereto,- is located. on the niachiue, where there is ample rooju-l ior placement and adjustment of the same, and where the parts are easily accessible, it will also be noted thatthe driving connections for the register, when in position, lie within the side lines of the machine, and are therefore protected against injury, Furthermore, the register is not constantly in full view or the operative, where itwould oft-en distract her attention, as its figures change, and cause errors, but it can be easily read from the front by the operative, upon leaning slightly to the right.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention,and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriter having a base frame and character keys, a counter mechanism compris= imparted to the counter mechanism when said shaft is oscillated.

2. In a typewriter having a frame and. character keys, a counter mechanism coinprising a counter with wheels and numerals thereon, a pawl and fine tooth ratchet wheel there being a plurality or teeth for each numeral on said wheels said counter being justably mounted to be moved to and fro on the frame of the typewriter, a lever carried by the counter for operating the same, said lever having a projection on one side, an os cillatable shaft or said typewriter extending across the typewriter keys with connections thereto for oscillating the shaft on operation of any key, said shaft having an arm within the frame and resting slidably against said project-ion whereby, when the counter is moved to and fro on said frame, it varies the effective length of the lever and arm to ad.-

j ust the movement of the pawl to adapt it tomove the ratchet wheel the distance of one of the fine teeth thereon.

JOSEPH LINDBURG. 

